Page 75 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

“I want to marry you.” I tightened my grip on her hair.

“Okay.”

I dipped my head and pecked her lips. “Soon.”

“Okay.”

“Let’s go get our cards and futures read.” I sighed and took her hand.

“No need.” She grinned. “My future is just like my name. Filled with sunshine.”

I knew then and there I’d never be alone again, because Summer blacked out all of my darkness, making everything shine bright.

Episode 80

You Belong to Me

JULIANNE

“Looks like I don’t need your help with Bianca, after all,” my brother said with a slimy looking smile as he pocketed his cellphone.

I frowned, uncertain where Brenden was going with his statement.

“Why is that?” Gio questioned when I couldn’t bear to.

A terrifying look of triumph crossed Brenden’s features. “Because Bianca just made bail.” He grinned, then lifted his hands, palms facing out. “I’ll see myself out,” he taunted and left the kitchen.

Gio held me tight as I started to tremble within his arms. “They let that disgusting woman out on bail? How?” I whispered, truly not able to understand how this could have happened. The woman drugged and assaulted a man with ill intent. She was caught in the act. Where is the justice system in all of this?

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. First things first, are you okay?” He rubbed my arms, and I shifted back to stare up into his face.

“Am I okay?” I scoffed, staring into those frosty blue eyes, looking for any hint of emotional trauma at the news we’d just received. But, of course, Giovanni was a man who had a one-track mind. And his mind makes me the priority, his own needs and feelings secondary.

My bottom lip quivered as I was genuinely hit with the fact that I could have had this man my entire adult life if I’d maybe been honest with him all those years ago. If I’d been more mature and admitted it was me in bed with him, and not his loser girlfriend, perhaps we could have had a decade of love already. He would have never met that bitch Bianca, and she wouldn’t have gotten her claws into him or my brother. If only…

“Julianne, you’re frightening me. Say something.” Gio’s voice was deep, demanding, and filled with concern.

“I can’t believe you’re worried about me.” I shook my head. “Gio, areyouokay? You’re the one she hurt the most.”

He gave me a soft smile. “I have everything I could ever want standing before me. Am I unhappy at this turn of events? Absolutely. More than anything, I’m worried about what she might attempt now that she has been released. With her in jail, we had less to worry about.”

“That’s for sure.” I sighed and blew a lock of hair out of my face as I placed my hands on Gio’s chest, enjoying thethump-thumpof his heartbeat against my fingertips.

“The good news is, when we were at dinner with Joel and Faith, and you were predisposed with planning our Grecian trip, I discussed the situation at length with Joel. He shared much about what occurred between Faith and her ex. It was far worse than anything we’ve dealt with, but he not only gave me some excellent advice, he provided me an ace in the hole.”

“Oh?” My heart started to beat faster as adrenaline pumped through my veins.

“He suggested I keep an eye on her, even in jail. Which means, the second the paperwork went through regarding her bail, the special security team I hired was notified of the situation.”

“What does that mean exactly?”

“It means the moment Bianca stepped foot out of the station, the team I hired is watching and keeping me posted of her comings and goings.”

“Okay, that sounds smart. I just hate that we have to even worry about her at all,” I said and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my ear to his chest.

He embraced me fully, rubbing his chin against the top of my hair.

Gio’s phone rang close to where I was resting my head. I pulled back as he reached inside his suit coat pocket and pulled it out, his brows pinched together.

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